Connor Barwin would 'love to be back' with Rams in 2018

Connor Barwin wasn’t viewed as a huge free-agent acquisition last offseason, given his age and lack of production the past two years with the Eagles. He didn’t have a significant impact for the Rams in 2017, but he did start 13 games and record five sacks.

The Rams gave him a relatively safe contract – one year, $3.5 million – which means he’ll be a free agent this offseason. He’ll join five other starters in that regard, including Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner and Sammy Watkins.

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Barwin won’t get a big-money offer from the Rams or any other team, but he’d like to remain in Los Angeles when it’s all said and done.

“I’d love to be back,” he said, via the team’s official site. “This is my third time [that] I’ll be a free agent. I’ve been down this road before. I’ll just let it take care of itself, enjoy these next couple of months, and then hope to be back and get to work.”

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Barwin admits he was surprised by “how special” it was to play for Sean McVay and Wade Phillips, despite knowing what he was getting into last offseason. That’s part of the reason Barwin wants to be back with the Rams in 2018, among other things.

“This team has the strongest foundation of any of the teams that I have gone to the playoffs with,” Barwin said, adding that Phillips’ system is “the best for me to play in.”

“I know the people around here know that and people around the league know that, so it makes sense from a football standpoint to be back in this system.”

Barwin is a more natural fit in a 3-4 defense because of his size. He’s not the biggest edge rusher in the league, but allowing him to stand up over the right tackle fits his play style best. It remains to be seen if the Rams want him back, but with Robert Quinn a potential cap casualty, they’d be smart to keep some veteran presence at outside linebacker.

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